[Sammy Spireite]

Westbars Spireite, on 15 May 2025 - 10:26 AM, said:

Him personally, or Webb too?

everyone I think, according to the DT.

Siege mentality maybe?

[Westbars Spireite]

Sammy Spireite, on 15 May 2025 - 10:45 AM, said:

everyone I think, according to the DT.

Siege mentality maybe?

There's nothing needs to be said really. He'll have to give Sky a minute before the game but there'll be no revelations.

[dtp]

Sammy Spireite, on 15 May 2025 - 09:57 AM, said:

Does the decision by PC not to do any pre-match "pressers" suggest he's got something big up his sleeve?

Or is the (bloated) management team just wanting to keep Walsall guessing?

Would you prefer him to come out and tell his team selection and tactics prior to the game instead?

[KevoBMMD]

Zigsuk, on 15 May 2025 - 09:55 AM, said:

I wouldn’t pick him. Pity Banks is unavailable as that reduces options

Talking with Banksy himself, there would be a good possibility he would be in the match day squad for Friday night.

[Sammy Spireite]

dtp, on 15 May 2025 - 10:58 AM, said:

Would you prefer him to come out and tell his team selection and tactics prior to the game instead?

Wind your neck in, nothing I type even remotely intimated as such?!

I was simply making an observation as we always do a pre-match even, suggesting it might give some idea of the mentality of the squad and management team approaching the game.

KevoBMMD, on 15 May 2025 - 11:00 AM, said:

Talking with Banksy himself, there would be a good possibility he would be in the match day squad for Friday night.

I wonder if we might see one or two surprise additions to the squad with the sole intention of only being able to have a small impression on the game?

Banks? Madden?

Westbars Spireite, on 15 May 2025 - 10:46 AM, said:

There's nothing needs to be said really. He'll have to give Sky a minute before the game but there'll be no revelations.

The starting Xi will be out an hour before KO, hopefully they'll still be one or two head scratches in terms of formation and tactics from that (both for Walsall and us fans lol)

[Westbars Spireite]

For anyone that knows Walsall, can anyone suggest somewhere to park up and eat reasonably close to the ground (far enough away to be able to walk to and escape fairly quickly after)?

[Zigsuk]

 KevoBMMD, on 15 May 2025 - 11:00 AM, said:

Talking with Banksy himself, there would be a good possibility he would be in the match day squad for Friday night.

That would be a boost. Although like many he can be inconsistent on his day he can really make a difference. He isn’t afraid to shoot which is always useful. Wouldn’t expect him to start but hope he’s fit enough to make some contribution if needed.

[Blue5]

 Spireite93, on 14 May 2025 - 10:32 PM, said:

Mandy is perfectly fine where he is, as long aswe put them on the back foot

If we do that, he has the freedom the roam inside or further forward like he was doing when we were chasing the game against Bradford

It's said a couple of posts back, there's no need for a change of system, just do ours better!

The question remains, more so for the coaching staff, how do we improve on Sunday's performance to an extent that we outscore Walsall by 2 or 3 goals?

Given that there's a degree of urgency to score and that their goalkeeper likes to play the twit, we can't afford for the ball to spend long in our own half, thus wasting our own time.

[Zigsuk]

That’s what concerns me. First half we were still playing it harmlessly from side to side in our own half despite being behind Second half a little more urgency but too little too late. We need to be on it from the off, and if being more urgent and taking more risks means sacrificing possession so be it.
I understand that keeper possession means the opposition can’t score but they don’t need to in this match. Sometimes it seems the coaching staff see having most possession as some kind of moral victory and whilst it’s nice to be the team with more of the ball, as we have seen it doesn’t always lead to actual victory.

[FORZA AZZURRI]

Westbars Spireite, on 15 May 2025 - 11:27 AM, said:

For anyone that knows Walsall, can anyone suggest somewhere to park up and eat reasonably close to the ground (far enough away to be able to walk to and escape fairly quickly after)?

Brewers fare
about 2 miles away
We are eating there then move a little closer to the ground .

Waterfront, Wolverhampton Street, Walsall, WS2

[Westbars Spireite]

Had a desi pub suggested. A fat tandoori mixed grill before will be just the ticket!

[Lincs Spireite]

Zigsuk, on 15 May 2025 - 01:14 PM, said:

That’s what concerns me. First half we were still playing it harmlessly from side to side in our own half despite being behind Second half a little more urgency but too little too late. We need to be on it from the off, and if being more urgent and taking more risks means sacrificing possession so be it.
I understand that keeper possession means the opposition can’t score but they don’t need to in this match. Sometimes it seems the coaching staff see having most possession as some kind of moral victory and whilst it’s nice to be the team with more of the ball, as we have seen it doesn’t always lead to actual victory.

Exactly mate. We need to go all guns blazing. As soon as we get a goal you can bet their keeper being the tw@ he is will have an unexpected injury and make it a recurring problem. Doesn't matter if we lose does it just go for it and hammer their goal.

[JonB]

 Lincs Spireite, on 15 May 2025 - 05:33 PM, said:

Exactly mate. We need to go all guns blazing. As soon as we get a goal you can bet their keeper being the tw@ he is will have an unexpected injury and make it a recurring problem. Doesn't matter if we lose does it just go for it and hammer their goal.

Not sure we do need to go all guns blazing, it’s only 2 goals not like the 4 Wednesday had to get back a few years ago and even then they only got to within one with 15/20mins to go.

The last thing we need to do is come out all gung ho, wide open and concede first making it an even bigger uphill task.

We need to be sensible about how we go about it and as Paul Cook often signals on the sidelines stay calm.

[h again]

Mandeville has to play 'cos he's one of the few who can be constructive against tight-pressing teams, but I'd be very wary about playing him at RB after the first leg. He seemed to be targeted then, and will be again, and it's a bit of a waste playing a right winger who has to help out defensively all the time.
That's my theory - who to play RB I've no idea, which is why three at the back might not be a bad bet with Mandy right wing back.

[Benno Spire]

 Westbars Spireite, on 15 May 2025 - 11:27 AM, said:

For anyone that knows Walsall, can anyone suggest somewhere to park up and eat reasonably close to the ground (far enough away to be able to walk to and escape fairly quickly after)?

There is a McDonalds near the ground but no Hooters for you I’m afraid

[Wooden Spoon]

Is jacobs not match fit? Surely he’d offer more protection to Mandy while linking with him and offering an offensive opportunity?

[JonB]

I suspect im in the minority here but I’d start Olakigbe again. Yes he wasn’t good on Sunday but the last few weeks prior to that he’s played a big part in getting us into the playoffs.

[dim view]

Wooden Spoon, on 15 May 2025 - 06:46 PM, said:

Is jacobs not match fit? Surely he’d offer more protection to Mandy while linking with him and offering an offensive opportunity?

Good sense.
Jamie Hewitt, who is a first class analyst, put the fault for the penalty squarely on Michael who, he said, ran in the wrong direction(paraphrased).

[Sammy Spireite]

 JonB, on 15 May 2025 - 06:56 PM, said:

I suspect im in the minority here but I’d start Olakigbe again. Yes he wasn’t good on Sunday but the last few weeks prior to that he’s played a big part in getting us into the playoffs.

Agreed

I don’t see any reason (unless anyone is carrying a knock?) to change the starting XI?

They performed heroics to get us here and can follow up Sunday with another lack-lustre performance surely.

[lindave]

KevoBMMD, on 15 May 2025 - 11:00 AM, said:

Talking with Banksy himself, there would be a good possibility he would be in the match day squad for Friday night.

I hope banksy gets a start.